Cardboard Baler Buying Guide: Vertical vs Horizontal Balers

Quick answer: A cardboard baler is a hydraulic press that crushes loose boxes into tight, strapped bales. Bales take far less space than loose cardboard, stack neatly and are easier to hand off to a recycler. Most shops and stores choose between a vertical baler, which is compact and loaded by hand, and a horizontal baler, which is larger and built for high volume. Choose by how much cardboard you produce each week, the floor space and ceiling height you have, the power available and the bale size your recycler accepts.

See the baler and recycling equipment we carry on our recycling balers and compactors page.

Why businesses bale cardboard

• Space. Loose boxes fill dumpsters and back rooms quickly. Baling compresses them into a fraction of the volume.
• Fewer hauls. Less volume usually means fewer waste pickups.
• Recycling value. Many recyclers prefer clean, baled cardboard, and some will buy it.
• A cleaner shop. Bales stack and store neatly instead of spreading across the floor.

Vertical vs horizontal cardboard balers

Vertical balers

A vertical baler has a chamber with a door at the front. You load cardboard through the opening, close the gate and run a cycle. The platen presses down from above. When the chamber is full, you tie off the bale and eject it.

• Small footprint that fits a back room or loading area
• Lower purchase price than horizontal machines
• Manual loading and tying, so it suits low to medium volume
• Needs enough ceiling height for the machine and the open gate

Horizontal balers

A horizontal baler presses material sideways and is often fed by a conveyor or hopper. Many models tie bales automatically.

• Built for continuous, high volume work such as distribution centers
• Larger footprint and higher purchase price
• Often needs three phase power and a dedicated installation

For most auto shops, tire shops and small retailers, a vertical baler is the practical choice. Horizontal machines make sense when cardboard arrives by the truckload every day.

Specs to compare on any cardboard baler

1. Bale size and weight. Ask your recycler what bale size they accept, then match the chamber to it.
2. Feed opening. A wider opening lets you load large boxes without cutting them down.
3. Press force. More force means denser bales and fewer ties per load.
4. Cycle time. A faster cycle keeps up with busy receiving areas.
5. Power source. Electric models need the right circuit. Gas models work where there is no suitable electric service.
6. Footprint and height. Measure the floor, the ceiling and the doorway before you buy.
7. Safety interlocks. The press should not run with the gate open.

What we carry today

We want to be clear about our current range. Right now we do not list a dedicated cardboard baler. The baler we carry is the TSI TC-710 G recycling baler, listed at $24,699. Its published specifications describe it as a can and bottle baler:

• More than 45,000 lb of crushing force from an 18 HP gas engine with electric start
• An oil cooler and a 5 inch cylinder as standard equipment
• Turns aluminum cans or plastic bottles into dense 20 by 20 by 36 inch bales of about 150 lb
• Fits into a truck or trailer bed, and can be used curb side or installed in a plant
• Listed weight of 2,169 lb and dimensions of 111 by 69 by 64 inches

Accessories for the TC-710 include the 6116K hopper chute at $799, the 5557 slide rails at $789 and the 5954 drip pan at $269. If your main waste stream is cardboard, compare a dedicated cardboard baler against the specs above before you buy, or contact us and tell us what you need to bale.

Where a baler fits in a shop recycling setup

Auto and tire shops produce more than cardboard. A full recycling area often includes:

• Tire cutters to cut scrap tires down to size
• Wheel crushers to flatten scrap wheels for scrap sales
• Oil filter crushers to drain and compact used filters
• A baler for cans, bottles, cardboard or other light material

Our tire cutter and recycling equipment guide covers the tire side of the setup.

Running a baler safely

• Train every operator and keep the manual near the machine.
• Never reach into the chamber while the press can cycle.
• Keep metal, liquids and other materials out of a cardboard bale unless the machine is built for them.
• Store finished bales on a level surface where they will not tip.
• Follow the maker schedule for hydraulic fluid, hoses and wear parts.

Frequently asked questions

What is a cardboard baler?

It is a hydraulic press that compresses loose cardboard into dense, tied bales that are easier to store and recycle.

Vertical or horizontal baler: which one do I need?

Most shops and small stores use a vertical baler because it is compact and loaded by hand. Horizontal balers suit very high volume sites such as distribution centers.

Can the TSI TC-710 G bale cardboard?

Its published specifications describe baling aluminum cans and plastic bottles. We do not list it as a cardboard baler, so contact us before buying it for cardboard.

What power does a baler need?

It depends on the model. The TC-710 G runs on an 18 HP gas engine. Electric balers list their voltage and phase on the product page.

Do you sell a dedicated cardboard baler?

Not right now. Our current baler range is on the recycling balers and compactors page.